Parent Teacher Talk
November 11, 2018
The Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 12: 38 - 44
In the first reading, we hear again of the widow who, at Elijah's urging, uses the last of her food to feed this holy man. Her obedience and faith resulted in a miracle that provided sufficient food to survive the famine. As we struggle through each, and sometimes many, daily crises,
her act of faith is an act we should follow, doing in this moment
what God asks and leaving the future to God's greater wisdom.
Hard to do with our children, but the widow did so with her son!
The Psalm praises God (again!) for His faithfulness to those who seek to do His Will. After reading the psalms once, read it again,
adding "in spirit" to each line. Which of these apply to me?
In the second reading, we are reminded that, as the Jews lived "in waiting" for the promised Messiah, we are living "in waiting" for Jesus' return to bring all who are waiting into final salvation. We are truly in a time when the immediate future is uncertain, but the final outcome is known. For those who place God's Will for people first, it will be a joyous day! For those whose concerns for themselves and their families are centered on worldly goals, God seeks constantly to
turn their hearts, minds, and souls to the eternity that will come.
Jesus' words in the Gospel convey this message to His listeners as He contrasts the intentions God condemns and the intentions God favors.
November
11th.............. Welcome Mass for Confirmandi, 9:45 am meet in undercroft
14th.............. First Reconciliation Celebration in Church, 7:00 pm
18th.............. RCIA Rite of Acceptance
21st............... Monthly Rosary - Ask Mary to help you see all for which we should be grateful
22nd............. Thanksgiving Day
25th.............. NO PSR - Thanksgiving Break
December
1st................ 8th Grade Confirmation Retreat - Jesuit Spiritual Center in Milford 8:45 am
2nd.............. Advent Begins! How will you prepare your soul to rejoice in God taking on humanity?
..................... Baptism Preparation class for those wanting to baptize their expected or present child
18th............. STM Christmas Musical
19th............. Monthly Rosary - 6:30 pm in Church - Seek Mary's intercession to prepare the hearts of your family for the incredible event of God becoming man so that He could save our souls for heaven!
23rd & 30th No PSR - Christmas break!
Newsy Notes
8th Grade Confirmandi Welcome Mass - THIS Sunday!
Gather in the Undercroft at 9:45 for the Welcome Mass at 10
STM Youth Ministry - ACTS
THIS Sunday from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm in Heider Hall
Check it out and bring friends!
Diocese Youth Rally! - Grades 6 - 8
Dynamic! Energetic! Fun! and Faith-Filled
VIA Catholic with Net Ministries presents
AWAKE!
Guardian Angels Parish - Saturday, November 10th
Rave reviews from youth!!
Meditation
" Lord, if your people still need me, I do not refuse the work. 
Thy will be done."
― Saint Martin of Tours
Greetings Parents,

“Mom, they want me to write about a difficult time so I'm going to write about two times I started a new sports team." "That sounds like a great idea, do they want two stories or one?" "They don't say, so more is always better, right?"

I don't have the answer, not knowing the exact description of the assignment, but it is a question we parents face constantly! It is good for our children to be involved in activities, but when is too much? We want family time, but what is a good balance of family vs. individual time? Our children often want to believe that no amount of video games is too much, and we know better! Day-to-day, the "right amount" might be different, depending on what has happened earlier in the week or will happen later. It could vary by children's moods, or ours. Our children will jump at any inconsistencies - how often do I regret times I try to "explain" my reasons rather than just say, "Because I say so," or "Because I think it is best."

When I consider God as the parent, though, perhaps we are not so unlike my children. When we pray and the prayer seems answered, we rejoice and praise God. When we pray and the troubles remain, or intensify, there's a tendency to begin nagging God, begging for a different solution - it worked last time! At times, it seems we look to greater prayer and devotional actions to sway God's decision, and sometimes our will seems to press God to yield.

But just as we want our children to respect my greater wisdom and simply ask once, perhaps God does not wish so much to be nagged as to be asked with a "yielding" spirit. It seems that it is human nature to expect constant goodness when there are constant easy times. Jesus promised the cross, but loving us, God also wants good things for us in this life too. Accepting this state can lead to a state of constant contentment that comes from constant acceptance, something perfected by saints! Our children need to complete schoolwork and chores and be denied some good things so that they will grow into mature adults who can support themselves and help God's Kingdom grow on earth. We adults sometimes need the same difficulties to remind us of our true mission here - not to grant every happiness to our children, but instead, to help them appreciate both times of relief and times of struggle and denial. All can be gifts from God through which He accompanies and supports us!

Hug your saints in progress today and ask their Guardian Angel's help in raising them. May God bless you and your family abundantly!

- Linda Bader, CRE, St. Thomas More
Articles for Parents
Not representing any one party, the following article considers the Church's intentionally limited political voice as it focuses instead on principles. In the article at the link below, the 6th and 7th paragraph are a great reminder of the real reason for Christ's sacrifice, for our purpose as people of Christ, and as creatures made in God's image and likeness.
"I'm no saint!" is a phrase we sometimes fall back on to excuse our human failings. The saints were not saints either, until their final communion with God. Before that, some lived holy lives from a worldly perspective. Others, however, had pasts that certainly led those who knew them to expect their eternity would be only full of pain.
The media is often not faith friendly, but if we look closely, we might find more options than we expect. Often there are hidden nuggets pointing to God's Truth in otherwise secular productions (a favorite that surprised me is "I Frankenstein" for those who like sci-fi and action). Wherever we can, it is worthwhile to help our children look for the values promoted within movies, discerning those leading the world to holiness and those leading away (most secular movies have both). Check the link for a movie artist's thoughts on one of his works.